Perry

Today we talked about HIV/AIDs in detail including how it attacks the body, how it spreads, how do we test for it and how we can fight it with ARV's. Perry told us her story. Several years ago her husband Francis was admitted to the hospital. When she arrived the doctor told her that he as HIV positive that he was going to die. She was devastated and they set out to fight the disease. The cost of the ARV medications was around $1,000 a month. His salary was around $300. They ended up selling all their possessions and trying a number of different remedies. She didn't know where to seek help so she went to her church. On that particular Sunday the pastor preached a message about how AIDS was God's punishment to kill those He hated. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She continue to battle the disease along with her husband and the doctor convinced Perry to be tested as well. She was HIV positive. After battling HIV for several years her husband passed away. Shortly after that her youngest son became ill and was not getting better. The doctor told Perry to have him tested and he was HIV as well. They aggressively fought the disease but to no avail and Arnold died before his 14th birthday. Her older son Kevin was big and strong and he wanted to go to school in Zambia away from the death that he knew at his home with his father and his brother who he was very close with. So Perry sent Kevin away to boarding school. He only made it a month before coming home ill. She had him tested and he was found to have lymphoma and HIV. He died at the age of 16. Perry was a teacher and because of the stigma of the disease had to leave her job. Her family disowned her for three years because of her positive status. She was lonely, destitute and without hope. Perry had begun an AIDS support group and worked with people who were HIV positive but she didn't take the ARV's herself thinking that she would just die to escape the pain until one day when a friend talked to her. The friend said, God has put you here for a purpose - look at all the people you are helping. That inspiration turned Perry's life around. She became a national advocate/spokesperson for HIV. She appeared on national TV became a real positive influence. She joined World Vision where she created a program that engages churches to battle the stigma problem in most AIDS effected communities. A year ago, Perry remarried a local pastor and now they have an expanded ministry to those who are suffering from the virus. I was amazed at the smile she had, especially for a woman that endured so much. She is an inspiration for all.